Jaguars Notebook: Gus Bradley still backing Blaine Gabbert

That was how Bradley described his evaluation of Gabbert after breaking down the game film. Gabbert completed 17-of-32 passes for 179 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Gabbert completed a 31-yard pass to tight end Clay Harbor and a 27-yard pass to receiver Ace Sanders in the fourth quarter with the Colts up 34-3.

“I would say stronger now after watching the tape,” Bradley said. “I saw him scramble around and make a play to Clay Harbor. I saw him scramble around and throw it to Ace on an explosive play. I saw him do some things.”

Gabbert was playing his first game since the season opener after missing the previous two contests with a cut on his right (throwing) hand. For the season, the third-year veteran is 33-of-67 passing for 300 yards with no touchdowns and five picks.

Shorts pressing

Receiver Cecil Shorts played a role in two of Gabbert’s picks on Sunday. After reflecting on the game, Shorts came to work Monday with a different view of his performance against the Colts. He caught seven passes for 61 yards on 12 targets in the game.

“I think I’m pressing a little bit honestly,” Shorts said. “When I got home, I started thinking about myself and I think I’m pressing trying to make some plays. I didn’t make some that I can easily make. I’m just thinking, I’ve got to do this. I just need to relax and play ball.”

The 25-year-old Shorts is tied for ninth in the NFL in receptions with 26 this season. He’s caught more passes than Dallas’ Dez Bryant, Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne and Detroit’s Calvin Johnson. Still, Shorts was disappointed in the inconsistency he showed against the Colts.

“In my opinion, I didn’t play well,” Shorts said. “I have high standards for myself and I didn’t do what I needed to do to help the team yesterday.”

Bradley doesn’t rule out TE Lewis

Tight end Marcedes Lewis indicated his calf strain was back to square one after re-injuring it early in Sunday’s game. Lewis missed the first three games with the injury. However, Bradley wasn’t ready to make any declaration on Lewis’ availability for Sunday’s game at St. Louis. He said Lewis would be evaluated as the week progressed.

“He re-irritated his calf strain,” Bradley said. “It’s one of those things where he felt it on the second play of the game. It wasn’t a pull like it happened before, he just felt it inside there. It was one of those things where we were looking at giving some treatment between quarters or taking him to the locker room but it was just irritated enough where we felt like it’d be best if he didn’t play.”

Bradley said free safety Dwight Lowery and receiver Stephen Burton would be retested Tuesday to monitor their respective progress recovering from concussions suffered in the loss at Seattle a week ago.

Cornerback Alan Ball (rib contusion) and receiver Denard Robinson (hamstring) will be limited some in practice this week, according to Bradley.

Justin Blackmon will return to practice Wednesday, having served his four-game suspension to start the season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Bradley isn’t ready to name Blackmon a starter for the St. Louis game, but did praise the second-year player for how he handled the suspension.

“He’s done tremendous these last four weeks,” Bradley said. “His body fat has dropped and his weight has gained. He’s in really, really good shape right now. He’s done everything that we’ve asked of him, he went on the trips with us. I could go with a list on some of the things we asked him to do that he’s done, so he’s a in a great frame of mind right now.

Bradley indicated that if Blackmon stayed in that positive state of mind through this week, he’d likely be starting against the Rams.

“If he continues that, then that’s what we would project,” Bradley said.

Blackmon caught 64 passes for 865 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie last season.

Stanzi returns

The Jaguars signed offensive guard Jacques McClendon and quarterback Ricky Stanzi to the active 53-man roster on Monday. Both players were waived on Saturday. McClendon has been waived the last three weeks, then resigned on the following Monday.

The Jaguars waived receivers Jeremy Ebert and Tobais Palmer to make room.